The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-02-26

she could call on no man of her ac-
quaintance for succor or protection.
There was nothing to do but await the
course of events.
The day went on, slowly enough,
perhaps, to Augustine, before whose
eyes the form of Lorenzo appeared not
but all too swiftly for her mother, en-
during sort of breathless apprehen-
sion. Night fell, and the little family,
shut inside their four walls, passed the
long winter evening as best they might.
At bedtime DOna Cleofas caller her
people together, and, to their surprise
and against their protests, marshaled
them away to II great room, guest
chamber rarely used, which lay at the
rear of the house, toward the kitchens,
and which was strongly defended, hay
ing no windows, but only heavy oaken
doors. These Dona CleOfas locked and
barred securely, and mustered her
flock together.
"Hush, Blasa! and you, too, Angus
tina. But look you at Eduardo, the
youngest of you all-how silently she
obeys, while you set up a clamor. Why
do 1 bring you here? Because will so,
then. How now! Am ( no longer
mistress in my own abode? Here are
three beds with ample pillows-get you
to rest. And you, Beata, Hermelinda
and Dolores''-to the sewing women
"spread out your blankets here on the
floor, near the ninas, and let me hear
not so much as a chirp from one OF you
till | call you in the morning"
Thus, Disgusting her tenderness and
anxious fears with severe speech, like
many woman of greater lore before
her, Dona Cleofas summarily locked
the one remaining door from the out
side and marched away alone. She
was confident that if trouble were inn
minent, it would come in the direction
of the little shop that was her source OF
income, where was respectable stock
of goods of worth, and readily port
able, besides her stronghold itself-nc
patent money safes then obtaining in
Chihuahua. Thither, then, to the store
room behind the shop did Dona Cleo
fas wend, and near by its weak point
small door opening on the patio, she
seated herself in great armchair o.
willow-work, and for brief time gave
herself up to the luxury of weeping
For, with all her force and decision Of
character, Dona Cleofas was but {
woman, and it might be on the
cards that she should gaze not on the
faces of her children again. She haC
brought her arsenal with her; no Gun
ming fabrication of Colts nor many
balled Winchester; for these inventions
of murderous man, to MAIN and sla,
his fellows, Dona Cleofas had not tn,
slightest use she was the traditional
woman in her horror of firearms, anC
would not have known how to make of
fensive use of them, unless as missile
= to be hurled against an intruder's head
But alongside her. and resting agains
her knee, lay heavy, long-helved axe
5 whose keen, broad edge had never beel
t turned against knot of stubborn oal
nor the gnarled roots that serve as fue
, Whereabouts, And Dona CleOfas ha,
all faith in the power of her own RICH
S arm to WELD it hard and well against
foe. The night went on, the silenc
: was unbroken, and DOna Cleofas slep
S Slept hard and fast, until all a
| once, with a start, sh
t was as wide awake as ever sh
4 was in her life, and realizing that yer
h close to her the throat of a man wa
c emitting labored yet rapid breathings
/ The auditory sense was strong and dc
d finite in Dona Cleofas, and it took he
S not many seconds to decide that tn
S intruder had crawled through an oper
o ing cut in the panel of the door befor
., her, and there he was, apparent
9 caught fast, sprawling, clawing, an
Il wriggling to force himself farther i
IL and clear of the opening. Now an
II then, in the fellows contortions, h
IS hot breath swept the hand of tn
= watcher Dona Cleofas drew deel
II soundless breath, and, rising swift,
d noiselessly to her feet, raised the az
IS in the air. Swift as light it fell
d chack! one mighty, convulsive writh
81 and the man with that last twistin
d shudder had drawn himself past Ii
5. grip of the ragged planks, and Don
II Cleofas, STOPPING resolutely, drew hi
d quite within with as natural NOV
|, ment as her quivering nerves coul
it compass.
e. A few moments of silence; thel
y barely audible, sibilant whispe
ct Thou, Lencho, is all well?" Throue
Of the followed hands of Dona Cleofas 4
g answer was sent back: "All well
id come onI Then, almost breath f,
T. breath, that same scene. mviewed
n the great darkness, was enacted, al